Rockland runs roughshod through Dietrich to round out Rocky Mountain Rumble

POCATELLO — On the road to a lopsided loss at the hands of the Rockland Bulldogs, the Dietrich Blue Devils put together just one sustained drive.

Dietrich (1-1, 0-0) received the opening kick of the third quarter, starting with the ball on their own 14-yard line. The Blue Devils earned four first downs, moving the ball into the Rockland red zone — they recorded just seven first downs all game.

But the Blue Devils’ nine-minute, 10-play drive resulted in seven points for the Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0), on a 95-yard pick-six from senior Ty Woodworth.

It was one of two interceptions for Woodworth on the day. As a team, Rockland picked off Dietrich and quarterback Gavyn Hoskisson four times, returning three of them for defensive touchdowns.

Rockland’s utter dominance resulted in a running clock throughout the second half, and a 71-6 victory capping a seven-game Rocky Mountain Rumble schedule that kept Idaho State University’s ICCU Dome busy for two weeks.

Bulldog head coach Gerry Hunter said after the game that his single key takeaway from the game — and a 66-8 victory over Lighthouse Christian last week — is how “awesome” his defense has been when the starters are still on the field.

“We just need to keep building on that defense,” Hunter told EastIdahoSports.com.
“We’re getting to the ball, we’re tackling. When our starters are in there, we’re pretty dang good.”

By the end of the second quarter, Hunter had emptied his short bench, giving some of his seven freshmen extended runs. Of Rockland’s senior trio, only Woodworth was left on the field, while Xavier Parrish and Zach Permann watched from the sideline, shouting instructions to their young teammates.

But Woodworth said he enjoys being on the field without Parrish and Permann.

“It’s more opportunity — since they’re gone, I get to do more,” he said. “So it works out well.”

It was in those minutes when Woodworth snatched both of his interceptions, the first of which he chugged the length of the field to finish in the end zone.

After the game, the fullback and linebacker was hearing some heckling from his fellow seniors about how he seemingly began to run out of gas near the 50-yard line.

“I’ve never been known to be a good sprinter,” he said. “I usually get about 50 yards … but I made it, so I’m happy.”

The game was in doubt for only a short time, starting with Permann taking the handoff on the first snap of the game 53 yards to the house.

Rockland then recovered an onside kick and was back in the end zone for a 16-0 lead less than two-and-a-half minutes into the game.

Asked how the big opening play set the tone for their eventual rout, Permann was quick to credit the blocking.

“Some great blocks,” he said. “I saw (freshman running back) Cooper Black, first play of the second game of his (high school) career, pancake like three dudes there on the right side. It was perfect.”

Permann finished the game with one carry for 53 yards and a score, six catches for 160 yards and two scores, and one of Rockland’s three pick-sixes.

Zach’s younger brother, Luke Permann, and cousin, Dallin Permann, are two of Rockland’s seven freshmen and shared time in the backfield after Zach was pulled from the game.

Luke finished with a 13-yard touchdown run, a 17-yard touchdown catch and a 40-yard pick-six. Dallin added a 22-yard touchdown run.

Zach talked after the game about how exciting this crop of freshmen is — three of whom, including Luke and Dallin, are starters this year — and the added joy of playing with his little brother.

“It’s so fun,” he said. “And I can, kinda, yell at my little brother — yell at him more than the other kids — because I’ve grown up with him and we’ve fought. But they’re all dawgs.”

Hunter added to that thought about the young Bulldogs.

“It’s a great freshman class, and they’ve got senior leadership to show them the way,” he said.

The final senior, Parrish, was also near-unstoppable in his short stint on the field.

Parrish completed eight of his nine pass attempts for 178 yards and four scores. He added 23 rushing yards, including a 29-yarder on a third down from the Dietrich 36-yard line. Parrish broke numerous tackles after seeming to be hemmed up short of the first down.

“Breaking tackles, feeling people just fall off of you, it’s great,” he said. “I really wanted to score on that one. So bad. But it’s OK.”

Parrish, like his fellow seniors, spoke about how impressed they have been by this year’s freshman class.

“The program’s in great hands,” he said. “We’ve been saying, ‘We have to win one this year, that way we can do it before they do, because they’re going to get one.'”

Hunter, though glowing about the play of the freshmen, took the chance to talk about Permann, Parrish and Woodworth.

“They’ve been playing hard together for their whole high school career, so they’ve always got each other’s backs. And they’re great kids,” he said.

Zach, the only one of the three seniors who has been a starter all four years, said that there is some added incentive for Rockland to win a state title this season.

“Winning is so much fun, and we’ve done it together for four years,” he said. “So getting that last one would just be the cherry on top.”

Rockland will be back on the field Friday, hosting the conference foe — and reigning conference champion — Challis Vikings at Rockland High School.